Egyptian Football Association opens referee recruitment

The Egyptian Football Association, led by President Hany Abou Rida, has announced a new initiative to expand the national refereeing pool. Starting December 4, 2026, the association will conduct promotion tests for current referees and accept applications from a new generation of aspiring officials.

To reduce financial barriers, the board has set application fees at 500 Egyptian pounds, covering exams and medical checkups. Successful candidates accepted as referees under probation will pay 2,500 Egyptian pounds to the association. The program is overseen by the Egyptian Football Association Referees Committee.

Applicants must meet several criteria: they must have a clean criminal record, no history of being struck from association registers, and must have been registered as a player for at least one season in official matches. Age requirements specify applicants must be between 16 and 24 years old, though exceptions are made for players who have represented national teams or played in first-division competitions.